Amawbia Tanker fire: Police confirms 7 dead, 1 survivor in NAUTH

February 10th, 2019

CYNTHIA CHIDINMA IGBOKWE writes that Nigeria Police, Anambra state command have confirmed seven dead following an explosion when a tanker fell at Amawbia roundabout Zik’s Avenue Amawbia near the Fire Service office and Governor’s lodge.

The Police spokesperson in Anambra, SP Haruna Mohamed in a statement said: ‘’It would be recalled that on the 9/2/2019 at about 8:30pm,there was a fire incident caused by Petrol Tanker explosion at Amawbia roundabout Awka in Anambra State.

‘’ So far, a total number of Seven Corpses were certified dead at various hospitals by medical Doctors while the only surviving victim was referred to the University Teaching hospital Nnewi and was admitted at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

‘’Consequently, out of the seven Corpses confirmed dead, three are deposited at Amaku General Hospital Morgue, two at Regina Caeli Hospital and another two at Piston Hospital Morgue for postmortem examination.

‘’Meanwhile, Situation was brought under control and obstruction cleared. Investigation is still ongoing. Haruna had earlier described it as sad and unfortunate.

Anambra Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Andrew Kumapayi blamed the incident on careless driving on the part of the tanker driver, adding that six person’s sustained injuries.

An eyewitness Onuwa Okoye said it was God who saved hundreds of people as it happened at a time many are home bound and could have been trapped in the raging fire.